Koh Samui or Ko Samui is famous for its Big Buddha Temple which is a 12 meters high Buddha statue that is painted in gold. An island situated off the east coast of Kra Isthmus, Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand after Phuket. It was once part of the Surat Thani Province before granted municipal status in 2012 which allowed it to self-govern itself. Koh Samui’s economy is mainly driven by tourism and also agriculture, with coconuts and rubber being the main product here. With regards to tourism, Koh Samui boasts a 73 percent hotel occupancy rate, hosting about 800,000 visitors on an annual basis while receiving almost 2 million visitors. Most of these tourists would come from Germany, United Kingdom, Thailand and other Asian countries. Aside from the coconuts, its sandy beaches and coral reefs are something to look forward to when you are in Koh Samui.

Airports in Koh Samui

Samui International Airport

Samui International Airport or also known as the Ko Samui Airport Koh Samui Airport is the primary airport of Koh Samui which is operated privately by the Bangkok Airways. Located in Bo Phut which is about 2 kilometres north of the main city of Koh Samui, the airport has a unique open-air design with only the gift shop, ticket office, toilets and VIP lounge area being the indoor areas. The airport is the seventh busiest airport in the country and can accommodate up to more than a million passengers annually. Samui International Airport has two terminals, in which one is utilised for international flights, and the other is meant for handling the domestic traffic. It is the hub for Bangkok Airways, having constructed and operated the airport since 1989.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Koh Samui?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Koh Samui. All you need to do is to key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Don’t hesitate to use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Koh Samui.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Koh Samui?

The off-peak season is in October and November because of the much higher rain frequency as well as heavier downpours. However, this could be a great opportunity to get good offers and visit places with much lesser crowds too, since the prices will drop. Therefore, if you want to save money, you can look forward to going to Koh Samui around this time. The peak season in Koh Samui is during the late December to January, as well as July to August which are the times when the temperature is not too hot, and the rain does not occur too often.

Koh Samui has a tropical savanna climate in which there is a true dry season month which is usually in February, with precipitation falling below 60 millimetres. The environment is usually warm and humid throughout the year. However, it is much drier than Phuket and other southern Thailand areas. The annual rainfall would be about 1,960 millimetres with the heaviest precipitation being from October to November. The temperature extremes are typically ranging from 18.6 degree Celsius to 36.5 degree Celsius.

Koh Samui has a lot to offer to the visitors especially when it comes to celebrations and festivities. As such, you can certainly look forward to joining in these events as a visitor upon coming to Koh Samui. To begin with, there is the Buffalo Fighting Festival which one of the best-known events here that are typically held during New Year’s Day and Songkran. Moving on, there is the Samui Regatta which is an international sailing event that attracts competitors from various countries. If you fancy an art festival, there are the Ten Stars Samui Art Party which brings together local Thai artists and their artworks close to the public. Last but not least, there are fitness events like the Samui Triathlon and Koh Samui THA Midnight Run.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Koh Samui?

Big Buddha Temple – Big Buddha Temple or also known locally as the Wat Phra Yai is a Buddhist temple that can be found on the Ko Phan, which is a small island not too far off the northeastern Koh Samui. There is a 12-meter gold Buddha statue as well as a smaller one depicting Maitreya of the Future. It is near to a beach town called Big Buddha Beach.

Chaweng Beach – Chaweng Beach is a beach located on the east coast part of Koh Samui, which is renowned for its pristine beach and terrific nightlife. It is the biggest and most popular beach in Koh Samui, being further divided into four sections, namely North Chaweng, Central Chaweng, South Chaweng and Chaweng Noi. There are a lot of accommodation choices nearby as well.

Fisherman’s Village Bophut – Located at the eastern part of the Bophut Beach which is yet another popular tourist destination, the area used to be a peaceful home of the fishermen which has been transformed into a rustic and mesmerising shopping destination. Upon coming over, one may notice several boutiques that are selling high-quality clothing and jewellery, as well as dive shops offering diving lessons and services.